Programa Comunitario de Mejoramiento Barrial was created in 2007 under the government of Marcelo Ebrard's Secretary of Social Development. Established as a short-term experimental intervention,73 the program helps rescue and improve public
spaces and social infrastructure within Mexico City's barrios, neighborhoods, towns, and residential units granting them up to 500 thousand pesos for new projects and $ 1 million for continuing projects. Ultimately the program aims to provide "favorable and safe urban environments which foster social cohesion." 74This is done through a participative,
integrated, and inclusive and gender-equal process. Today it serves over 1,120 neighborhoods which have “noticeably improved their quality of life through their community work”.75
72 Abril Mulato. "Sí, En México Ya Se Puede Multar a Los Hombres Que Usan Los Vagones Del Metro Para Mujeres." Verne. June 15, 2016. Accessed March 15, 2018.
https://verne.elpais.com/verne/2016/06/15/mexico/1465954201_743742.htm
73 Georgina Sandoval and Alberto Martinez, El Programa Comunitario De Mejoramiento Barrial De La Ciudad De Mexico Y La Necesidad De Evaluarlo, Departamento Para La Investigacion Y Conocimiento Del Diseno, Universidad Nacional De Colombia, Bogota Colombia, 2012, 9, Accessed February 2018
https://issuu.com/sem_proceso_urbanos_informales/docs/el_programa_comunitario_de_mejoramiento_barrial. 74 Alicia Ziccardi, "Espacio Público Y Participación Ciudadana El Caso Del Programa Comunitario De Mejoramiento Barrial De La Ciudad De México," Gestion Y Politica Publica 21, 7 (December 15, 2011): , accessed March 03, 2018, http://www.gestionypoliticapublica.cide.edu/num_anteriores/Vol.XXI_No.I_vol-tematico/06_Alicia_Ziccardi 75 Ibid, 2
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The projects are implemented in areas of a medium, high and very high marginality. Regions which are subject to conflict and social insecurity are also eligible for the program's benefits. The community must come together through a participative process to create a competing file. Before submitting the proposed projects to the Secretary of Social Development, all proposals are presented and agreed upon by residents at a neighborhood assembly meeting. Once approved by the residents, a project promoter is selected to “promote” the competing file. Then it is subject to revision by a Mixed Technical Committee. This entity is made up of members of multiple city agencies such as Secretary of Urban Development and Housing, Secretary of Governance, and Secretary of Public Works and Services.
This process of citizen participation exemplifies Arnstein’s (1969) notions of power redistribution76. By enabling those often excluded from decision making to take part not
only in the implementation77 phases but also in the definition of needs and the design of
urban social policies, new forms of citizenship are promoted. 78
Upon the change of mayoral hands, the 2012 operational rules were modified, or “evolved” to account for the surrounding political changes. According to Alberto Martinez, former head of the program, as leaders and society grew more aware of the need for equitable processes, and above all the provision of safe spaces for women, the PMCB
76 Arnstein, Sherry R. "A Ladder Of Citizen Participation." Journal of the American Institute of Planners 35, no. 4 (July 4, 1969): 216-24. doi:10.1080/01944366908977225.
77 Ibid
78 Alicia Ziccardi, "Espacio Público Y Participación Ciudadana El Caso Del Programa Comunitario De Mejoramiento Barrial De La Ciudad De México," Gestion Y Politica Publica 21, 6 (December 15, 2011): , accessed March 03, 2018, http://www.gestionypoliticapublica.cide.edu/num_anteriores/Vol.XXI_No.I_vol-tematico/06_Alicia_Ziccardi
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required committees to provide reasoning as to how this action would specifically target the previously mentioned goal.
Having been approved, residents of the neighborhood will form three committees tasked with the management and completion of the proposed project. The administrative committee is responsible for the financial aspects. This includes receiving and administrating funds as well as being held accountable for the correct distribution of such. The committee also provides the other committees as well as the Secretary with any pertinent information.
Through the use of financial reports and blogs provided by the administrative committee, the supervision committee oversees the correct use of the authorized funds, as well as the quality of the project. Finally, the community development committee promotes and solidifies the neighborhood participation processes established within the project proposal.
As mentioned above, this program started as an experimental initiative. This condition allowed it to operate without monitoring or evaluation mechanisms, nor any measurable objectives. By 2013, as the executive, local government changed hands, public officials acknowledged the need to include evaluation practices as a fundamental part of public management. Authorities recognized that through evaluation exercises "technical and political elements" would be provided and ultimately improving the
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program's overall performance.79 Since then, annual program evaluations have been
required by law published within the Official Gazette of the Federal District.
This program has received a handful of prizes due to its success in empowering communities and leading the process of citizen participation. Rewards and recognition include Deutsche Bank Urban Age, World Habitat Award, and Recognition by the Regional Center for learning based on evaluation and results, and the international Dubai prize for best practices. 80Most recently, in January of 2017, the Program was identified
Inter-American Development Bank as one of the best practices within the category of "Leadership and Civic Participation of Women." Specifically, related to this research, this participatory process has been particularly popular among female residents, who often take part in the proposal and management phases. A majority of these women ultimately become the local committee members, a role which empowers them, granting them ownership over the project. Ultimately, ownership and empowerment lead these women to become more secure in using the spaces they helped create.
79 Secretaria De Desarrollo Social, Subsecretaria De Participacion Ciudadana, Evaluación Interna Del Programa Comunitario De Mejoramiento Barrial 2014 (Ciudad De Mexico, DF: GDF, 2014). 3, Accessed March 2018 http://data.evalua.cdmx.gob.mx/docs/evaluaciones/internas/2014/ei_pcmb_sedeso_2014.pdf
80 “Mejora tu Barrio”. Accessed February 2018. https://mejoratubarrio.com/el-programa-de-mejoramiento- barrial-y-comunitario/#sobreelsitio
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